Jayashree Nandi, TNN, Nov 18, 2010,
BANGALORE: After Bt brinjal, it is the genetically modified rice that has started facing heat from the farming community.
Right in the backyard of Bangalore, a GM rice field trial is being carried out on one of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) farms. Local farmers on Wednesday destroyed the paddy grown on the farm and set fire to some stacks to show their resistance to GM rice.
Farmers of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) have been opposing genetically modified crops for a long time and are demanding seed independence.
GM rice using a transgenic SPT (Seed The Economic Times Technology) is under trial at a one-acre farm in Doddballapur on the outskirts of Bangalore. While the local farmers had no clue that this was being carried out, when they found out about it on Tuesday, they were outraged that a public-funded institution like KVK was carrying out field trials of GM rice and even without the local panchayat's knowledge.
A group of 75 people shouted slogans demanding justice for the farming community and destroyed the paddy with their scythes. As soon as they broke into the wire-fenced field trial zone, local police vans also reached the spot. The group managed to destroy the crops and set fire to some heaps, but they were dragged out of the farm and pushed into the police van. There were no KVK officials at the site.
"They were secretly conducting field trials of GM rice. We are totally opposed to this technology. Why are they trying GM seeds without our knowledge? Many cotton farmers had a bad experience with Bt cotton, and we also understand that these technologies are only for the benefit of multinational companies. It is shocking to see how public-funded institutions are not working for the benefit of the farmers," said KRRS vice president Venkata Reddy.
He said: "GM rice is a threat not just to the farmer but to all because of its health and environmental impacts.''
PANCHAYAT-SPEAK
"We were not informed of the trials. No one was asked for permission. In fact we got to know about it only after the KRRS farmers protested," confirmed H Nagaraj, gram panchayat member, Hadanahalli.
WHAT SCIENTIST-KVK SAYS
Asked about the nature of contract of KVK with the GM rice company, Du Pont, scientist who is dealing with the experiment, said it was only a test that KVK was helping the company conduct at their farm.
N Rajanna, programme co-ordinator, KVK, said many farmers visit their farms regularly and some like KRRS are opposed to GM crops.
The farmers demanded that traditional seeds be restored and KVK should document the biosafety of GM seeds. They also demanded that the university should not allow multinational companies to do field trials in their land. Charges of criminal trespass and property destruction were filed against the farmer leaders who protested.
WHERE ?
Doddaballapur, where the field trial farm is located, is around 40 km from Bangalore, and is one of the main agriculture and sericulture hubs of Karnataka.
STAPLE CROP
Rice is the staple food of two-thirds of our population. According to the information available published under the RTI act and from the minutes of the GEAC (genetic engineering approval committee) meetings, there are more than 35 events of GM rice that are in various stages of research. Various varieties that claim that they are insecticide-, drought-, fungi- and bacteria-resistant. Seed production technology (creating male sterile lines) is currently being researched in India. The argument being used to promote GM rice is that it will be able to deal with food insecurity and vagaries of climate.
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